Summer time is a time of transition. A time of transition from the early spring to the full bloom of warmth and sunshine (or in the case of the UK, rainstorms), and a time to reflect on the half of the year gone.
When I look back at a lot of my posts over the last 18 months or so, there is a repeated phrase: liminal space. A space where one travels through, never stopping, never staying. Like an airport terminal or the service station at the side of a motorway, the last 18 months have felt like something to travel through. To get out the other side, find a new normal, to find…
Something.
The past six months I’ve had to take my focus away from writing. Life, the ongoing DIY project, and work have all eaten into my time at different points over the last six months. I’ve written less than I did at the start of the pandemic, even though I haven’t got less time per-se, but that’s okay. I’ve found a routine of consistent, less writing, is better than spending a month smashing out words and then taking two months off as the creative well re-fills. We’ll have to see how this new approach takes me into the latter summer months – the time when my creativity seems to have a little dip every year!
Novel Writings
Last year I talked about taking a different pace with my writing, focussing on my ongoing novel edits and switching focus to writing more blogs. I wanted to save up my creative ideas for my editing work, rather than spending my energy focussing on writing multiple flash fictions. I think this was the right choice, I’ve made significant process on my novel over the past six months and now looking to start July heading into the next key section.
You can stay up to date about all my novel news by checking out my page here!
I’ve also now got a Pinterest aesthetic board for my Novel Series! Check it out below:
Writing on Caffeine
My monthly newsletter is now a whole 6 months old! I’ve really enjoyed writing these – it’s made me recognise some tools I want to develop further! You can find more about my newsletter here.
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This Month’s Posts.
Missed any of my posts from this month? You can find them all below!
The Dream
You write for the younger you. For the younger you who always dreamed but never believed you really could. For the younger you who wished with all of her heart to create a dream. For the younger you who saw no limits. For the younger you who still dreams today. For the you that still…
Having all the time in the world isn’t always a good thing
You might think that having all the time in the world to do your writing is a good thing. You have these images of people with unlimited time sitting there with a candle burning, a notebook and a pen on their desk, wistfully staring out of the window and contemplating existence. However, I don’t think…
This is not a plan
“You said you had a plan for this?! Flying into the port with no approvals is not a plan.” Taelew looked over at his co-pilot. Yivonn was not one for breaking the rules, which is why he hadn’t told her of the plan until they were on the final descent. “I do have a plan,”…
Editing a First Draft – Top Tips
First drafts are fickle creatures. They are hastily thrown together (especially if you are a “gardener” writer like myself) and need work to form the story that you see in your mind’s eye. Editing your first draft can feel like climbing a mountain without a guidebook – there is simply so much to fix, and…
Travelling around your world – Writing on Caffeine
This month in my newsletter, Writing on Caffeine, I’m talking about warm up exercises for your writing craft, why they’re important and a few ideas for you to use! Like any craft, you need to practice your writing muscles outside of your core projects, and that’s where little warm ups can come into help! Not…
Lessons from Flowers
Flowers can teach us a lot. They can teach us about what it takes to grow. That you have to be fed with the basics of human needs before you can truly flourish. That everyone grows at their own rate, and that other people’s journey cannot be compared to your own. They teach us that…
February Thoughts – Welcoming Spring
This month has been a waxing and waning of writing inspiration and time. Sometimes I find there are weeks I can sit at a desk and write a lot, other times I have to go and rest on the sofa. I was really struggling to get back into my novel until I spoke with one…
Travelling around your world – Writing on Caffeine
This month in my newsletter, Writing on Caffeine, I’m looking at worldbuilding, and the topic of conversation is how your characters travel around your world. How people travel can be intrinsic to how large or small the world they experience is – if everyone travels on foot, then journeys of a few hundred miles will…
After the Battle
“How are you doing, now?” Yinla asked. Oaleth poked the fire with the end of a stick. The smoke curled upwards into the night sky. “That’s a loaded question,” he replied, looking up at the stars above. They twinkled back, quietly watching over the world below. The world they had just saved. “Alright,” Oaleth said,…
Consume stories, regardless of the medium
There is a lot of good writing advice out in the internet ether that recommends reading a lot if you want to write a lot. This advice has a lot of truth in it, and it is important to read to help your writing craft. However, today I want to talk about the benefit you…
Arrival at Maalek
“Here we are,” their guide announced, “the legendary city of Maalek,” Serene rolled her eyes. The sprawling ruins in front of her did not look anything like the ballads that Kieraj had been singing about for the past week. They seemed old, realistic, and, well normal. Nothing like the soaring towers and gilded halls that…
How to write food and drink into your fantasy world
Food and drink is a vital part of any society. What we eat and drink depends on the land around us, the trade we have with other countries (or lack of), access to certain ingredients and cooking tools. If we have food from a street vendor or food from a five start Michelin restaurant, then…
Photo Credit: Roxxie Blackham on Unsplash
Alex.J.Cobalt 